Member - Graham H (QLD) replied:

You can be assured from lots of users on here that it DOES,and if you read the last big thread we gave ALL the info on what sort of sims worked.
No good asking a Telstra dealer they want you to take out a new satellite account and most dealers outside of those who actually deal with satfones wouldnt have a clue.
I wanted a TELSTRA internet modem and was told in a TELSTRA shop that there was only BIGPOND
JEEZ bllody hell why bother.

Gone Bush (WA) replied:

John, just make sure that your dealer in Fyshwick is a Telstra dealer and not one of the other outlets that sell these phones and also use Iridium. I have a sneaking suspicion (not confirmed) that some non Telstra outlets might have a way of locking their phones from using a Telstra SIM.

The other way is to put your SIM in the phone before buying and just walk outside and try it.

Member - Graham H (QLD) replied:

Better still buy a second hand one for about half the price and you will still get your noney back if you sell it when you are finished with it.

Prices go from $900-$1200 usually

Member - John & Julie ACT replied:

Thanks to all for your positive responses. I have rung most of the Telstra shops in Canberra today and only one of them has a sat phone and they 'think' it is a motorola but dont know what model and can't be bothered to find out for me. Oh, wonderful Telstra!!! None of them seem to be registered for the rebate either. The woman at the shop in Fyshwick wasn't very pleasant when she bluntly told me that she had never heard about using the nextg sim card and 'if it worked I would know'. Will let the fingers do the walking again tomorrow.
Thanks to all again
Jules

Dean replied:

While you're in Telstra shop ask the helpful staff to give you an Iridium plan brochure. On the back it even says, you can use gsm/ng sims, with higher call costs.
Dean